System: Build My Own Territory Chapter 986 - 290: March With Me (10,000) (Part 5)

~4 minute read · 893 words
Previously on System: Build My Own Territory...
Guard Captain Walter arrives late, demanding to see Master Zock about urgent matters. Butler Rand tries to delay him, stating Zock is resting with a new maid, but Walter insists on waiting. Rand informs Zock of Walter's urgency, and Zock agrees to hear him out while preparing for a bath. Walter barges in as Rand lets him pass, his intentions unclear.
Gazing into the distance. A faint mist emanated from a room, prompting him to move forward without hesitation. Volker entered the open bathroom door, his eyes briefly scanning the interior. Within the spacious bathtub, Master Zok's somewhat portly physique was submerged. He wasn't accustomed to physical exertion and indulged in daily excesses. Beside Zok, two young maids knelt, both unclothed like their master. The gently rippling hot water of the tub was all that concealed their delicate features. Walter merely cast a swift glance before immediately lowering his head, respectfully addressing, "Master." Zok, reveling in the maids' ministrations, simultaneously used his right hand to explore one of the maids. Despite having just concluded exertions with another maid in the bedroom, his hands craved further exploration... Upon hearing Walter's voice, Zok inquired, "Speak, what urgent matter requires my attention?" Without preamble, Walter reported, "Master, the spies dispatched to Morgan Town have recently returned." Zok, who had closed his eyes, snapped them open. He propped his right arm on the bathtub's edge and looked at Walter with mild surprise, asking, "You refer to the group of spies who previously vanished?" The initial contingent of spies he had sent out had been unaccounted for, missing for nearly ten days! No word had arrived, concerning their fate, whether alive or deceased! Walter, with a hint of apology in his tone, clarified, "My apologies, Master Zok, it is not that group which went missing." "The second contingent of spies that were dispatched has returned..." A wave of disappointment washed over Zok's face as he leaned back against the bathtub's wall. Moving his right arm, he continued to enjoy the hot water while exploring the maid beside him. Zok casually queried, "Tell me, what intelligence did the spies retrieve?" Walter explained, "Master, the returning spies informed me." "Compared to previously, the intensity of patrols within Morgan Town has notably escalated." "Each patrol unit has expanded from an initial five members to ten currently." "And the intervals between successive patrol teams are now a mere five minutes." "This means the moment one patrol passes, the next is immediately on its heels!" Zok, his eyes still closed, his fingers had delved deep within the maid's body. Though the maid's face was flushed and she trembled uncontrollably, casting resentful glances his way, Zok paid no mind and continued his ministrations. Concealed by the bathtub, Walter, standing a good eight or nine meters away, was naturally unaware of the activities within. Seeing Zok remain silent, he kept his head bowed and proceeded with his report. "Master, in addition to the increased patrol strength, the soldiers manning the Manor Castle walls have also seen a significant increase!" "Similar to the patrol teams, all soldiers are clad in identical, peculiar steel armor!" Zok remained impassive, his right hand repeating its deliberate motions. Walter continued, "Fearing detection and capture by the patrol teams." "The spies only dared to observe from a distance." "They provided a rough estimate of the soldier numbers within Morgan Town and the Manor Castle..." "The count of fully armed soldiers is at least four to five hundred!" No sooner had Walter concluded his statement. The maid kneeling beside Zok could not stifle a soft cry. "Ah~" At the sound, Walter looked up slightly in surprise. Within the bathtub, the maid's face was crimson. Quickly lowering her head, she addressed Zok, "Forgive me, Master, please pardon my impropriety..." Zok, unperturbed, even flashed a grin, saying, "No need for anxiety, I grant you absolution!" Upon receiving Zok's clear pronouncement, the maid's panicked expression gradually subsided. Only then. Did Walter finally grasp the reason for Zok's silence. With a motion of his right hand, he guided the bowing maid to lean closer against him. Only then did Zok turn his gaze towards the distant Walter, inquiring, "Four to five hundred fully armed soldiers?" "Walter, Captain of the Guard... do you not find that assertion somewhat excessive?" Walter's brow furrowed slightly, a puzzled expression on his face as he asked, "Master, you imply..." Zok's right hand slid to the nape of the maid's neck, resting on her shoulder. His downward-hanging right hand found its mark, resting precisely on the maid's ample curves. His palm tightened slightly, eliciting another resentful glance from the maid towards Zok. Zok, completely indifferent, continued speaking to Walter. "The Connelly Manor has been in our family for generations." "To this day, we possess only fifty chain-armored soldiers and thirty leather-armored soldiers." "The remaining soldiers are equipped with simple cloth armor, or none at all!" "Even Viscount Jon Zacks of Kasong City commands no more than a thousand fully armed soldiers."A Lord whose name was never heard before, without anyone knowing what stratagems he employed, managed to annihilate the Lord of Morgan Town Manor... How could such a person possess four to five hundred impeccably outfitted soldiers? Is it possible to procure quality iron at no expense, or to obtain armor without the need for Gold Pounds? Even if his territory holds a salt mine, do you have any idea of the astronomical cost in Gold Pounds for four to five hundred sets of standard armor? Unless, in addition to a salt mine, his territory also boasts a viable iron mine for exploitation!